NWPA Project Linus: April Newletter

Monday, March 31, 2025

April Newletter

April, 2025

Welcome Spring Blanketeers,

If you are Spring cleaning your craft or Sewing room, please keep NWPA Project Linus in mind, We are always happy to receive pieces and parts of cotton material,Flannel, yarn or fleece. They make for very cheery and fun blankets.

Mark your calendars for Wednesday May 21^st , as we will be having a “ Kit pick up day”. From 10:00-2:00 at 1446 Patterson Ave. ( Coordinator’s home). There will be many types of kits, fleece and yarn for making Project Linus blankets. Plenty of off Street parking.

ODDS & ENDS:

- There is still a need for boy blankets of all types and sizes. When we deliver blankets, we always try to put a mix of boy and girl blankets, so that the hospital or agency has a variety to pass out to their patients or clients.

- Our blankets need to be kid safe and friendly, so , no buttons, ribbons or long fringe. And as always, please check for pins.

-

REMINDERS:

- Please be cautious of the crochet or knitted patterns, along with the type of yarn and needle size, so that the finished afghan doesn’t have too big of “holes” in it or too loose. It was brought to my attention that “Little fingers” can become entwined in them or caught on hospital equipment. If you are making an afghan for an older child, then most patterns will be fine.

- Due to children’s unknown allergies, Respiratory issues and sensitivities please be cautious of perfumes, dryer sheets, fabric softeners and scented bagsin regards to making, storing blanket making material or dropping off a blanket. These are things that we may not even think of that could set off a medical situation for a child.

Looking Ahead:

May 21^st - Kit Pick up day

August 12^th- Erie Gives

Follow us on Facebook for updates as well. You can find us at:

· NWPA Project Linus - Like us -and that automatically will add you to our friend list.

· www.nwpaprojectlinus.blogspot.com- is our web page

Warmly,

JoAnn Burkhart

NWPA Project Linus – Coordinator

814-392-5583

Nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

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NWPA Project Linus is one of 368 chapters of the national organization Project Linus. Our chapter covers the counties of Erie, Crawford, Mercer,Warren in PA and Chautauqua County in NY.

Nationally Project Linus has given 7.7 million blankets to children in need

Locally our chapter has given 50,698 since our founding in 1998

Contact Information: Chapter Coordinator-JoAnn Burkhart

Phone- 814-392-5583

Email- nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

1446 Patterson Ave, Erie, PA 16508

Mission:

Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization providing handmade security blankets for children who are seriously ill, traumatized or in need. Our blanketeers make handmade blankets to give to these babies and children to keep. Our goal is to help these little ones through whatever they are going through, be it an illness, hospital stay, surgery, tragedy, loss of a loved one, whatever the trauma with the love and comfort of a security blanket.

First it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."

Second it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Where Blankets go locally:

Baby First, Bair Foster Foundation, Bethesda Children's Home,

Caring Place, Children's Advocacy Center, Children's Aid Society, Crawford County Human Services- CYS, Community Shelter Service, Crime Victim Center,

Erie Family Center, Erie Free Store

Home, Family Services ( Union City)

Good Sheppard Center ,

Harbor Creek Youth Service's, House of Healing,

Individuals, International Institute,

Keystone Foster Care & Youth,

Mercy Center for Women, Mercer County Children & Youth, Millcreek Community Hospital,

Nurse Family Partnership,

Office of Children & Youth Services,

Refuge Homeless Shelter-First United Methodist, Royal Family kids

SafeNet, Safe Start, Salvation Army, Sarah Reed Children's Home, St. Vincent's Health Center, Shriner's Hospital

Title 5,

UPMC Hamot Hospital,

WIC, WCA Hospital , Women Care Center

Where and When we Meet:

First Wednesday of each month-

Millcreek Sewing ,

6044 Peach Street 1:00- 4:00 Sewing kits and machines provided

Second Monday of Each month- **** NEW LOCATION ****

1446 Patterson Ave Erie, PA 16508

9:00-11:00 Working meeting, sewing on labels, sorting blankets

Third Thursday of each month-

Doug Yaple's Vacuum,

1518 E. 38th Street 10:00-2:00 sewing kits provided

Drop off Locations:

Erie County-

NWPA Project Linus

JoAnn Burkhart

1446 Patterson Ave.

Erie, PA 16508

814-864-9389 814-392-5583

Kelly' Sewing Corner

3330 W. 26th Street

Erie, PA 16506

814-838-7158

Marie Bissell

Lake City- 814-774-4884

Tena Pomeroy

814-969-4433 ( Albion,Pa)

Super Stitch

10429 West Main Street * New Location*

North East, PA 16428

814-725-3335

Millcreek Sewing Center

6044 Peach Street

Erie, PA 16509

814-866-8227

Doug Yaple's Vacuum

1815 E. 38th Street

Erie, PA 16510

814-897-9337

Doug Yaple's West

2301 W. 12th Street ( Schaal Plaza)

814-616-6100

JoAnn Fabrics

7200 Peach Street

Erie, PA 16509

1-814-866-3197

Crawford County:

Jackie Gildea

Crawford County Assistant

1-814-720-0702

Fox's Sew & Vac Sales & Service

Downtown Mall

Meadville, PA 16335

814-333-1400

JoAnn Fabrics

18921 Park Ave PLZ

Meadville, PA

1-814-724-1358

Warren County:

Ronnieann Walters

814-723-5408

Mercer County:

Linda Hajtol

724-588-3289

116 N. Pitt Street

Mercer, PA 16137

St. Michael's Church

76 North High Street

Greenville, PA 16125

724-588-9800

JoAnn Fabrics

2481 E. State Street

Heritage, PA 16148

724-981-4000

2020 Updated Blanket Sizes

Preemie- 30 X 30 36 X 36

Baby- 36 X 40 40 X 40

Medium- 40 X 50 40 X 60

Large- 45 X 60 45 X 72

Local blanket requirements:

1. Blankets need to be made with NEW, CLEAN, WASHABLE materials in infant, child or teen friendly colors. These blankets are meant to be colorful, cheerful, and cuddly and loved.

2. We accept new/not used knitted, crocheted, quilted and no-sew fleece tied blankets (either double or single thickness).

3. Due to children’s allergies: blankets coming from smoking households or households with pets need to be washed prior to donation.

3. A -Due to children's allergies and possible respiratory issues, please refrain from the use of dryer sheets, fabric softeners and scented bags when either laundering or storing blanket making material.

4. Please keep in mind hospital equipment and small fingers.

If you are hand tying a quilt ,secure the batting into outer seams and if the blanket is tied, please anchor it every 4 - 6 inches so that the batting doesn't bunch up. Cut strings short.

Weave in all yarn ends on crocheted and knitted blankets. No long fringe.

5.Once again due to allergies please no wool or wool blend in yarn or fabric

6.Check your blanket carefully for straight pins. Its better you find that pin and not the child who receives your blanket.

7.No buttons, ribbons or similar decorative items on a blanket. They can be a choking hazard to children.

8.We cannot accept blankets with puffy type paint on the surface of a blanket. The thick stuff peels off - we don't want a child eating it. We recently received a blanket that had so much paint on the surface it was like pulling apart Velcro when we tried to unfold it.

9.We do accept blankets decorated with fabric markers,(please note regular markers or Sharpies bleed when washed)

10.We cannot accept blankets with any religious connotations, or seasonal prints.

Kids Helping Kids Program: This program is designed for young children or those who are not old enough to make no-sew fleece blankets. We encourage older groups and adults to consider making no-sew fleece tied blankets for their community involvement projects. For more information please contact JoAnn Burkhart. 1-814-864-9389 or 1-814-392-5583

To Request a blanket for your organization or an individual child contact JoAnn Burkhart.1-814-864-9389 or nwpaprojectlinus@hotmail.com

Basic Fleece Blanket Single Layer making directions:

1 1/2- 2 yards of fleece

Trim 2 selvage sides

Cut out 5" squares from each corner

cut 1" strips that you then tie first loosely, then second tie a bit tighter. otherwise you end up with an oval shape blanket rather than a rectangle that you started with.